1997 Mercury Sable transmission problems

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE WAS INFORMED BY A FORD REPRESENTATIVE THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT STILL HAS THE VEHICLE, BUT IS AFRAID TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,840. UPDATED 12/30/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED OIL LEAKING IN THE TRANSAXLE AREA. UPDATED 01/05/09.

NHTSA complaint #10251496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING AND DRAINING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY OPEN RECALLS AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V097000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA complaint #10230569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE SLOW TO UP SHIFT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO LOWEST GEAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 23 MPH. LOUD ROARING! AFTER PLACING IN PARK; PUTTING INTO DRIVE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO FIRST GEAR, BUT WILL NOT CHANGE INTO HIGHER GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10150303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY SABLE. WHEN PARKING THE CAR THE SHIFTER INDICATES IT IS IN PARK, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE. THERE IS A RECALL #96V166000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON 9-6-05. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10135799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE POWER STEERING/POWER WINDOWS AND ABS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. *AK (AUTOMATIC POSITION LEVER MODULE) THE RADIO HAD GONE ON AND OFF AS WELL. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10083658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT SABLE WAS A BAD CAR AFTER THE ENGINE OF MY MOTHER'S '87 SABLE EXPLODED, CAUGHT FIRE AND BUSTED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAR BESIDE THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE (1993). LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OFF AND SITTING IN PARK FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT MY 97 SABLE IN 2001. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH SO MANY CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I SPEND ABOUT $1200 A YEAR FIXING IT CONTINUALLY. I'M CURRENTLY HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO GOING OUT WHILE IN REVERSE OR WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE. THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WON'T MOVE UP OR DOWN UNLESS THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER PRESS THE BUTTONS AT THE SAME TIME. THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON, SO WE HAVE TO UNPLUG THE FUSE TO GET IT TO GO OFF. THE SEAT BELT SAFETY LIGHT AND THE WINDOW BUTTON LIGHTS KEEP CLICKING ON AND OFF. ONCE AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. I HAVE TO GET THE WHEELS ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. THE CAR ALWAYS MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AND DOES NOT BLOCK OUT THE SOUND OF WIND. THE SHOULDER STRAPS OF SEAT BELTS ALWAY LOCK INTO PLACE TOO TIGHT. NAME THE PROBLEM... I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THROUGH IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD/ MERCURY AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS THE #1 SELLING CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10070190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER POSITION MODULE FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS/POWER STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE PART. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK *CB

NHTSA complaint #10046703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REBUILT.HEAD GASKET REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10030646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1997 MERCURY SABLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10018020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT ABOUT 100,000 EASY HIGHWAY MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, PLUS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS MINOR ENGINE REPAIRS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $350 EVERY OTHER MONTH, THE WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN ANYMORE, AND NOW--4 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT--WE HAVE LOST OVERDRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AGAIN! WE HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS MANY PROBLEMS, AND WILL NEVER BUY A FORD/MERCURY ANYTHING AGAIN. OUR SUBURBAN WAS MORE RELIABLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ABOUT A YEAR BACK I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON MY SABLE AT 70,000 MILES. IT WOULD MOVE IN REVERSE BUT NO FORWARD MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF OVER $2000 AND LOSS OF VEHICLE USE FOR A WEEK. A MONTH LATER, IT FAILED WITH EXACTLY SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAME FACILITY AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN FOUR DAYS. SIX MONTHS LATER, AND EXACTLY A MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY ON REPAIR WORK EXPIRED (74,000 MILES), THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VISIBLY DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING (AT ALL SPEEDS). TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR FACILITY - WAS TOLD IT'S INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONCE AGAIN! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE 4,000 ON TRANSMISSION JOBS ON THIS CAR WHEN IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. I SCANNED THROUGH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND SOME OTHER INSTANCES WHEN THIS TRANSMISSION HAD GIVEN PROBLEMS TO OWNERS. JUST WONDERING HOW MANY DISSATISFIED OWNERS WOULD IT TAKE FOR FORD TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A "REAL" PROBLEM WITH THEIR SABLE/MERCURY TRANSMISSIONS! I HAD TWO FORD TAURUS'S IN THE PAST, AND THIS IS THIRD FROM FORD FAMILY. I AM GOING TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON FORD CARS IF THIS IS THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT I GET FOR MY MONEY.

NHTSA complaint #10013755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED A 1997 MERCURY SABLE IN JULY 1977 FROM DON JACKSON SPARTAN LINCOLN MERCURY DEALER. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE BRAKES, THE "PLASTIC" BUCKET HOLDING RESERVE ANTIFREEZE (CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE) AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK (INTERMITTENTLY AND STEADILY). WHEN I CONTACTED DON JACKSON LINCOLN-MERCURY AT THOSE TIMES WHEN THE PARTS ACTED UP TO ASK THEM IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS (AND I CITED EACH AREA EACH TIME I CALLED), I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WITH THE 97 SABLE. I FOUND THERE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY. I HAVE PAID $2000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, $550 FOR BRAKES, $80 FOR THE ANTIFREEZE BUCKET, AND WENT TO PURCHASE A WIPER MOTOR ($85) WHEN I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO STORE CLERK TO CHECK THE INTERNET, WHICH I AM NOW DOING. I FIND THAT JACKSON SPARTAN L/M DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HONEST WITH ME AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DON JACKSON SPARTAN L/M OF THESE FALLACIES. WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA complaint #10003211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE ENGAGE FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO MOVE DIDN'T WORK. DEALER FIXED THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8024113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #766652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING THE THROTTLE. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS INCREASING. DEALER WILL BE REPLACING SPEED CONTROL CHIP FOR SIXTH TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED TO SEE IF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8015583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOMENTARILY OPERATE ERRATICALLY. NEEDLE WOULD JUMP BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ACCELERATOR POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA complaint #8011810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR OUT AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BECAUSE OF DIRTY WATER, IT IS WRITTEN IN OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE FLUSHED 1 TIME EVERY 100,000 MILES.*JB WHILE FLUSHING THE RADIATOR, WATER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *YH CONSUMER STATES THAT EVER SINCE RECALL 98823 WAS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, RADIATOR HAS CONSTANTLY NEEDED FLUSHED, NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8008936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF APPROACHING FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME. THE CAR FROM PARKED POSITION COULD BE BACKED IN REVERSE GEAR TO THE STREET, BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD IN "D" IT DOES GO FORWARD, BUT TAKES UP TOO MUCH ENGINE RPM - SLIPPAGE?- TO PICK UP SPEED. THEN YOU CAN SWITCH GEARS TO 2ND AND 3RD (D WITH OVERDRIVE OFF) AND 4TH (WITH OD ENGAGED) GEAR. I HAVEN'T RISKED TOPPING 45 MPH IN MY TEST RUN. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN PUT IN "D" AND SEEMS LIKE TAKING TOO MUCH RPM TO PICK UP LOAD WHEN GEARS ARE CHANGED MANUALLY. I HAVE BROWSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE FOR COMPLAINTS LAUNCHED BY OTHER '97 SABLE OWNERS, BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY ONE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #756754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY DENIED IT UNTIL I MADE MANAGER DRIVE W/ME THEY REBUILT IT FREE, AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM, I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR A WEEK. THEY REBUILT IT, 1 YR LATER HAPPENED AGAIN, SAID CANNOT FIND ANYTHING, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THEY ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IN THESE DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER TOO STRONG FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THEY MADE A MISTAKE. OIL IS BLACK, THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECALL BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECALL THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #754609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TRANSMISSION FAILS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY DENIED IT UNTIL I MADE MANAGER DRIVE W/ME THEY REBUILT IT FREE, AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM, I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR A WEEK. THEY REBUILT IT, 1 YR LATER HAPPENED AGAIN, SAID CANNOT FIND ANYTHING, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THEY ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IN THESE DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER TOO STRONG FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THEY MADE A MISTAKE. OIL IS BLACK, THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECALL BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECALL THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #754609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #562240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE IS REVVING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. MPH DOES NOT MOVE, BUT RPMS GO UP, POSSIBLY DUE TO BANDS WITHIN TRANSMISSION THAT ARE SLIPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #888184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE SLOWED TO 30 MPH, TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. DEALER FOUND METAL SHAVINGS.

NHTSA complaint #884338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH PREVENTED CLUTCH FROM GOING INTO GEAR. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BROKEN. THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #882372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH PREVENTED CLUTCH FROM GOING INTO GEAR. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS BROKEN. THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #882372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WHICH BROKE. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #783774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION BLEW APART. CRACK IN CASE MAY HAVE OCCURRED FIRST, CAUSING INTERNAL PROBLEMS (STILL HAD FLUID) OR TRANSMISSION BLOWING APART MAY HAVE CAUSED CRACK IN CASE (PER REPAIRMAN).

NHTSA complaint #733834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.